Hefei city's scenario innovation work takes center stage

A company makes a presentation at the competition. [WeChat account: gh_da57a4eb9d4e]

The finals of the 1st Hefei Application Scenario Innovation Competition were held on Jan 24 in the core area of the Grand Union of Innovation, or GUI – an innovation service hub based in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province.

The competition focused on six areas – including smart manufacturing, urban governance and technology benefiting the people – attracting the participation of nearly 200 companies. In the end, 19 companies made it to the finals.

Scenario innovation is a type of innovation that involves analyzing existing products, services, or solutions. It identifies user needs, transforming those needs into innovative scenarios – thereby redefining the pattern and form of the products or services – so driving the growth and upgrading of products or services.

Scenario innovation may discover new demands in new scenarios or construct new scenarios within existing demands. This approach aims to promote consumption and drive high-quality economic development.

Hefei began planning scenario innovation work in 2021 and officially launched the initiative in 2022.

Led by the Hefei Development and Reform Commission, Hefei Scenario Application Innovation Promotion Center Co Ltd – jointly funded by six units including Grand Union of Innovation Service Platform Co Ltd and the Hefei Gaoxin Group – is a key player in this field of endeavor. It's the first city-level scenario innovation company in China established to explore effective paths for urban scenario innovation.

Focusing on technological innovation, industrial development and urban construction, the company matches products with scenarios and vice versa – facilitating the demonstration and promotion of new technology and product applications.

To date, Hefei's scenario innovation work has served thousands of companies. By establishing platforms for product and scenario integration, it's said to have helped over 110 companies to implement scenario applications, achieving significant results in scenario innovation.

Moving forwards, plans are for Hefei to continue to focus on enterprise production, urban construction and management, as well as social services. It will aim to foster the cultivation of scenario innovation ecosystems – around key industries, areas and projects – in order to promote the integration and development of more innovative resources.